Richard Mardukas is an overly protective aide of Tessa’s who insists on guarding her with his life. He holds the rank of Commander and is in charge of Mithril’s TDD-1 when the Captain, Testarossa, is not on board; appropriate, given that Mardukas’ position is that of Executive Officer. Mardukas is often seen wearing a hat bearing the name of the HMS Turbulent (S87), a real British submarine.
Prior to joining Mithril, Mardukas was the Commanding Officer of the HMS Turbulent, and a graduate of the Royal Navy’s “Perisher” course: the submarine equivalent to the US Navy’s famed “Top Gun” Fighter Weapons School. He was Vice Chief of a nuclear attack submarine during the Faulklands War. According to the FMP novel A Dancing Very Merry Christmas, Mardukas was known to the submarine community as a genius of submarine warfare, leading to his nickname “Duke”; he also served on HMS Conqueror when it sank the General Belgrano, and while commanding the Turbulent saved Tessa’s father and his submarine on a secret mission. Many of his peers in the submarine community, such as Commander Killy B. Sailor, CO of the USS Pasadena, believe Mardukas to be working in a shipping firm after his retirement.—wikipedia






